Method and apparatus for patching veneer



United States Patent [72] Inventors Carl W. Maxey Everett; Kenneth M.Cage, Marysville; Egon H. Bauer, Everett, Wash.

[21] Appl. No. 745,462

[22] Filed July 17, 1968 [45} Patented Dec. 15, 1970 73] Assignee TheBlack Clawson Company Hamilton, Ohio a corporation of Ohio [54] METHODAND APPARATUS FOR PATCHING VENEER 15 Claims, 19 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 144/310, 144/2. 144/218183/371: 156/98, 156/258,

156/514 [51] Int. Cl B27d 5/00 [50] Field ofSearch 83/371; 144/2. 3.(200). 309. 310. 3 l 3: 156/94. 98. 250. 252. 256258. 293. 298. 353. 510. 5 I3. 514. 5 16. 5 17 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,336,703 12/1943 Skoog 156/258 2,675,038 4/1954 Carlson 156/98 PrimaryExaminer-Gerald A. Dost ArtorneyMarechal. Biebel, French & BuggABSTRACT: A sheet of veneer is fed at a constant rate past adefect-sensing device and then successively through a series of spacedpatching stations each having a rotary die cutter, a defect remover anda patch inserter which are controlled by the sensing device and areeffective to replace a defect with a patch at any point across the widthof the sheet without stopping it.

ATENTED DEC] 5 I970 SHEET 3 OF 4 FIG-6 FIG-8 83 85 METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR PATCHING VENEER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION To remove a defect suchas a knot or hole from a sheet of veneer, usually one of two methods isemployed. One method is to pass the veneer sheet over a sensing devicewhich either optically or mechanically senses each defect. The sheet isthen delivered past a traveling cutoff saw or a clipper knife which iscontrolled by the sensing device and operates to cut the sheet laterallyacross its entire width on opposite sides of each defeet so that alaterally extending strip portion containing the defect is separatedfrom the sheet.

In accordance with the second method of removing a defeet, an operatorvisually inspects the sheet to determine where each defect is locatedand then manually orientates the sheet on a table to align each defectsuccessively with a mechanical punch which cuts out the defect to forman opening into which a patch is pressed. The first method of removingeach defect from a sheet of veneer has the advantage of high-speedproduction since the defects are removed without stopping the sheet, buthas the disadvantage of cutting the sheet into pieces of shorter length.On the other hand, the second method of removing the defect preservesthe original length of the sheet but is slow in that it requires thesheet to be manually orientated to align each defect with the punchingand patch inserting equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to animproved method and apparatus which provide for automatically sensingdefects within a sheet of veneer moving at a constant speed along apredetermined path and for automatically removing the defects andinserting corresponding patches without stopping the sheet. Thus thepresent invention provides the primary advantage of patching a veneersheet quickly and accurately without cutting the sheet into smallerpieces, and it is ideally suited for use in a system for producingplywood in large quantities.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a sheet of veneer is fed at apredetermined constant rate along a table past a sensing device and thensuccessively through a series of longitudinally disposed batteries orgroups of laterally spaced patching stations, each including a rotarydie cutter wheel driven through a clutch controlled by the sensingdevice. Each cutter wheel cooperates with a movable anvil member forcutting the sheet around a defect, and an air nozzle is located adjacenteach cutter wheel for ejecting the die-cut defective portion of thesheet downwardly through a chute to an endless scrap-collectingconveyor.

Each patching station of the apparatus also includes a magazine forsupporting a stack of precut patches, and a mechanism ejects the bottompatch from the magazine and positions the patch so that a portion of itis received within the die-cut opening. Each patch is pressed into theopening by the cooperation of a spring finger or blade and a pair ofpress rollers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic sideview of patching apparatus constructed in accordance with the inventionand with portions broken away to show details of construction;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic and fragmentary plan view of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus taken generally along the line3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4AD illustrate the successive operations performed on a sheet ofveneer by the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally on the line5-5 of FIG. 2 and showing a typical patching station;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary axial view, partly in section, of a typical diecutter wheel;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary radial section of a cutter wheel taken generallyon the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a radial view of a cutter knife taken generally on the line8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a typical patch inserting mechanism shownin FIG. 5 and with portions broken away;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the lower portion of themechanism shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a section taken generally on the line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a section similar to FIG. 11 and showing a patch beingejected from the magazine;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the patch inserting mechanism takengenerally on the line 13-13 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken generally on the line14-14 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary section taken generally on the line 15-15 ofFIG. 11; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary section showing a modification of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the apparatus shown in FIGS.13, an elongated frame 20 is formed by a pair of parallel-spacedhorizontal beams 21, each supported by a series of legs 22 and havingmounted thereon a series of upright support posts 23, 24 and 25. Aplurality of crossmembers 26 rigidly connect the beams 21 and support ahorizontally extending platform or table 30 having a flat upper surface.

A plurality of patching stations 35 are arranged in longitudinallyspaced batteries or groups along the frame 20 and table 30, and eachgroup consists of 13 laterally spaced patching stations with thosestations in each group being offset laterally a by a slight amountrelative to the stations in an adjacent group. While only two groups ofpatching stations 35 I are shown in FIG. 1 with each group including 13patching stations, the apparatus may incorporate four or five groups ofmore or less patching stations depending on the width of the veneersheets to be patched. Since each patching station includes substantiallyidentical components, the construction of only one patching station willbe described in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, each patching station 35 includes a pressureroller 38 supported by an arm 39 pivotally connected to a cross framemember 40 connecting opposed posts 23 of the frame 20. The arm 39 isbiased downwardly by a compression spring 42 mounted on the guide rod 43which is slidably supported by a bracket 44 secured to the frame member40. Each pressure roller 38 forms a nip with a drive roll 48 which issupported by bearings mounted on a frame member 49 and projects upwardlyinto a laterally extending slot 50 formed within the table 30.

Each group of patching stations 35 incorporates a head member whichincludes a frame 56 pivotally mounted on a shaft 57 connecting the upperends of the opposed set of sup port posts 24. A laterally extendingdrive shaft 60 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is rotatably supported at the top of theframe 56 by a series of bearings 61, and a sprocket 62 is secured to theshaft 60 for each patching station in the group. Each of the sprockets62 is connected by an endless chain 64 to the input shaft of acorresponding power-operated clutch 65 which also functions as a brake,and which may be either electrically or fluid actuated by appropriateremove control.

As shown in FIG. 1, the clutches 65 for each group of patching stations35 are arranged in three laterally extending rows and are supported bydepending members 67 forming part of the frame 56. A stationary shaft 68is supported by the lower ends of the frame members 67, and a cutterwheel 70 is mounted on the shaft 68 for each patching station. Eachcutter wheel 70 includes a generally cylindrical hub 72 (FIG. 7) whichis lined with a bearing 74 for free rotation of each cutter wheel 70 onthe shaft 68. An annular sprocket 75 is secured by a series of screws 76to each hub 72 and is connected by a chain drive 77 to the output shaftof the corresponding magnetic clutch 65.

Referring to FIGS. 68, each cutter wheel includes a pair ofdiametrically opposed arms 78 which project radially outwardly from thehub 72. A die cutter knife 80 is mounted on the outer end of each arm 78and is formed in two mating sections 82 which are removably secured tothe arm 78 by a wedging or clamping bar 83 and a pair of shoulderedscrews 84. The knife sections 82 have a beveled cutting edge 85 whichcurves both axially and radially to define a cutting edge with aboat-shaped configuration when viewed radially as shown in FIG. 8.Referring to FIG. 6, the cutting edge 85 of each knife 80 has a uniformradius from the axis of the shaft 68 and thus rotates within acylindrical path concentric with the shaft 68.

A slot 89 (FIG. 5) is formed within the table 30 for each of thelaterally spaced die cutter wheels 70, and a stationary anvil plate 90having a flat upper surface 92 is supported within each slot 89 by across frame member 94 mounted on the beams 21 of the frame 20. Anendless flexible anvil member or belt 95 is provided for each cutterwheel 70 and is supported by the corresponding stationary anvil plate90. Preferably. each anvil belt 95 is formed from a low friction plasticmaterialso that the belt 95 will easily slide across the stationaryanvil 90. A guide roller is supported within each anvil belt 95 by aspring-biased arm 101 (FIG. 1) pivotally connected to the frame member94. Each roller 100 forms a nip with a guide roller 103 which issupported by a stationary bracket (not shown secured to a cross framemember 105 mounted on the beams 21.

A laterally extending drive roll 108 is also supported by the framemember 105 and projects upwardly into a slot 109 formed within the table30 so that the upper surface of the roll 108 is substantially flush withthe top surface of the table 30. A plurality of pressure rollers 112(FIG. 5) are arranged to two laterally extending and longitudinallyspaced rows adjacent the table 30 and are supported by a frame 114 sothat each patching station has one roller 112 in nip relation with thedrive roll 108 and another roller 112 resting on the top surface of thetable 30. The rollers 112 of each patching station are longitudinallyaligned with the corresponding cutter wheel 70 and pressure roller 38. Aplurality of vertical guide rods 115 project upwardly from the frame 114and are slidably received within blocks 117 secured to a pair of crossframe members 118 rigidly connecting the opposing sets of posts 24 and25 spaced across the table 30. Compression springs 119 are mounted onthe guide rods 115 between the frame 114 and guide blocks 117 and serveto bias the pressure rollers 112 against the drive roll 108 and table30.

A generally flat nozzle member is supported between the pair of pressurerollers 112 of each patching station 35, and is positioned inlongitudinal alignment with the corresponding die cutter wheel 70 andpressure rollers 38 and 112. Each nozzle 125 is connected by a line 127to a laterally extending air supply manifold 128 supported by one of thecross frame members 118, and a solenoid-actuated valve 130 is mountedwithin each line 127. When any valve 130 is opened, it produces a blastof air which is directed downwardly from the corresponding nozzle 125through an opening 132 formed within the table 30.

Each patching station 35 further includes a generally verticallyextending magazine 135 which is arranged in longitudinal alignment onthe table 30 with the corresponding die cutter wheel 70, pressurerollers 38 and 112, and nozzle 125. Each magazine 135 includes a pair ofmating formed sheet metal sections 136 (FIGS. 9 and 11) each having anoutwardly formed flange 137. The sections 136 define a generallyvertically extending chamber 140 which is of sufficient size to receivea stack of veneer patches P (FIGS. 10 and 11) each having a boat-shapedconfiguration corresponding to the cutting edge 85 ofeach knife 80.

Each magazine 135 is supported by a surrounding rectangular base member142 (FIG. 9) which is rigidly secured to a channellike bracket 144(FIGS. 9 and 13) mounted on a cross frame member 145 (FIG. 5), and whichis positioned at a slightly inclined angle from vertical. As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, each magazine 135 has a series of vertically spaced sideopenings or holes 147 which provide for a visual indication as to theheight of the stack of patches 1 within the magazine.

Referring to FIG. 15. each magazine 135 is slidably received within itscorresponding base frame 142 and has a pair ofoutwardly projecting tabs151 (FIG. 15) which rest upon the upper surface of the frame 142 toserve as stops. Each tab 151 has a hole for receiving the upper end of alocating screw 152 which is threaded into the frame 142 and projectsfrom its upper surface. A spring wire clip 155 (FIGS. 9 and 15) issecured to each section 136 of each magazine 135 by a pair of bolts 156.and each clip 155 includes a pair of parallel-spaced legs 158 eachhaving an inwardly projecting tip 160 at its lower end. A strap 162connects each pair of legs 158 and is engaged by a V-shaped centralportion 164 of the clip 155. The the clips 155 on each magazine 135serve to retain the stack of veneer patches P within the magazine whenit is removed from its frame 142. That is, when a magazine 135 isremoved, the tips 160 move inwardly under the edges of the bottom patchwithin the stack. When the magazine 135 is inserted into its frame 142,the lower end of the V-shaped portion 164 of each clip 155 is cammedoutwardly by the frame 142, causing the withdrawal ofthe tips 160 intocorresponding grooves formed within the frame 142.

A guide tube 168 (FIGS. 10 and 12) is secured to the lower portion ofeach channel member 144 and slidably supports a blocklike ram 170 (FIG.14) which is connected by a plate 172 (FIGS. 10 and 14) to the armatureof a solenoid 175 mounted on the support member 144. Referring to FIGS.9 and 14, a spring member 176 is mounted on each edge of the ram 170 bya pair of screws 177 extending through a tab 178. Each spring 176includes a bow-shaped portion 179 from which depends a pair of springfingers 181 spaced on opposite sides ofa tab 182 supporting a roller184. Each finger 181 has a lower tip 185 having a curved inner surface(FIG. 13), and the two pairs of fingers 181 are positioned to engage theopposite edges of a veneer patch P at its widest point for purposeswhich will be explained later.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 13,21 V-shaped flat spring member includes abifurcated upper portion formed by spaced flanges 192 (FIG. 13) whichare secured to the lower surfaces of the'frame 142 by a set of screws193 and the screws 152. The flanges 192 define a slot 194 which islocated centrally in relation to the bottom of the magazine chamber 140.The spring member 190 includes a flat lower portion 195 which slopesdownwardly from the lower surface of the magazine frame 142 to the uppersurface of the table 30;

A patch feed or ejecting member 201) (FIGS. 9 and 11) includes a flatblade portion 201 which is slidably confined between the magazinesupport frame 142 and the flanges 192 of the spring member 190. AV-shaped notch 202 (FIG. 11) is formed within the forward end of theblade portion 201 and is positioned to engage the adjacent end portionof the bottom patch within the magazine 135. An elongated tab or finger205 (FIG. 11) is secured to the underneath surface of the blade portion201 of the ejecting members 200 and projects under the central portionof the magazine 135 within the slot 194.

The ejecting member 200 of each patching station 35 also includes anelongated opening 206 which receives a pressure roller 208 (FIG. 11)supported by a spring-biased arm 209 (FIG. 5) pivotally connected to across frame member 210 in the same manner as the corresponding pressureroller 38. The rearward end portion of each feed member 200 is connectedby a pin 212 (FIG. 12) to the piston rod 214 of an air cylinder 215(FIG. 5) supported by brackets 217 depending from a cross frame member218. Each cylinder 215 is supplied with air through a line 220 which isconnected to a laterally extending air supply manifold 221 through asolenoid-operated valve 222. A drive roller 225 (FIG. 5) is supported byhearings 226 mounted on a cross frame member 227 and projects upwardlyinto a laterally extending opening 228 within the table 30 to form a nipwith each of the pressure rolls 208.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, an endless conveyor belt 235 extendslongitudinally between the legs 22 of the frame and is directed around afreely turning end roller 236 and a roller 238 driven by a variablespeed drive 240. The upper arm of the conveyor 235 is supported by aseries of guide rollers 2A2 and passes under a chute 244 positionedbelow the nozzle I of each patching station. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,the main cutter head drive shaft 60 and each of the drive rolls 48, E08and 225 for each group of patching stations 35 are driven in synchronismthrough an interconnecting chain drive 248 which, in turn, is driven bythe output shaft 249 of a speed reducer 250 connected with a variablespeed motor 252.

In the operation of the patching apparatus, a strip or sheet S of veneer(FIG. 5) is fed from left to right (FIGS. 1 and 5) on the table 36 intothe first battery or group of patching stations 35 and across a defectdetector 255 which is located under an opening 256 (FIG. 5) formedwithin the table 30. The general construction of the detector 255 issubstantially the same as the detector disclosed in copendingapplication Ser. No. 552,940, filed May 25, 1966, now abandoned andassigned to the assignee of this application. This detector opticallysenses each defect such as a hole or knot at any point across the widthof the veneer sheet S and is connected to a circuit which controls theoperation of the clutch 65, the solenoid 175, and the solenoid-operatedair valves 130 and 222 of each patching station 35. The detector 235also controls the variable speed motor 252 and thus the drive rolls 48,I08 and 225 so that each die cutter wheel 70 and corresponding patchinserting mechanism of each patching station is actuated, in accordancewith its spacing from the detector 235 and in timed relation with thefeed of the sheet S by the drive rolls 48, I08 and 225.

To illustrate the operation of each patching station, the fragment of aveneer sheet S is shown in FIG. 4A and has a defect D in the form ofahole. When this defect is sensed by the detector 255, it actuates thecircuit controlling the clutch 65 within the drive for the particularcutter wheel 70 which is longitudinally aligned with the defect D. Whenthe defect arrives at the cutter wheel 7b, the wheel rotates 180 fromits normal position shown in FIG. 1 so that one of the knives 80 engagesthe sheet S to die-cut the sheet as indicated in FIG. 48 to form aboat-shaped defect portion B. As a result of the engagement ofthe knifeedge 85 with the flexible anvil belt 95 (FIG. 5), the belt moves withthe sheet S and slides across the upper surface of the stationary anvilmember 90. As soon as the knife edge 85 leaves the veneer sheet S, theanvil belt 95 stops, and the sheet S continues to slide across the uppersurface of the belt.

When the defect portion B arrives under the nozzle 125 of thecorresponding patching station 35, its solenoid valve 130 opens, and adownward blast of air from the nozzle 1.25 ejects the defect portion Bdownwardly through the corresponding chute 244 and onto the conveyor 235which delivers the defect portion to a suitable scrap container (notshown) located at the end of the conveyor 235. While the defect portionB is being die-cut and removed from the veneer sheet S, thecorresponding solenoid valve 222 is opened to actuate the connected aircylinder 215 for extending the patch ejector member 200 (FIG. 12) tomove the bottom patch within the corresponding magazine 135 in anupstream direction to a position where the side edges of the patch P areengaged by the curved tips 185 of the spring fingers 181 (FIG. 14). Thefeed member 200 returns by a spring to its home position shown in FIG.11 when the valve 222 is closed.

When the boat-shaped hole I-l (FIG. 4C) within the veneer sheet Sarrives at approximately the position shown in FIG. 9, the solenoid 175is energized to move the patch P downwardly (FIG. 10) so that thetrailing end of the patch P is received within the hole H and is engagedby the portion of the sheet defining the trailing end of the hole As thesheet S continues to advance along the table 34), the patch P isreleased from the fingers 181 and engages the lower flat portion l95 ofthe spring 190 which earns the patch P downwardly into the hole H andcooperates with the corresponding press roller 208 to press the patch Pinto the hole H and thereby to complete the patching operation as shownin FIG. 4D.

Preferably, the dimensions of each patch P are slightly larger than thecorrespondingly shaped hole H which is die-cut by one of the knives 80of a cutter wheel 70 so that the patch P is retained within the sheet bya press fit. Usually each veneer sheet S and the included patches Preceive a coating of adhesive on one or both sides when the sheet isassembled with other sheets to form a plywood. In some installations,however, it may be desirable to coat the edges of each patch P withinthe magazine I35 with a heat-sensitive adhesive so that after each patchis pressed into a die-cut hole H, the sheet is exposed to heatsufficient to activate the adhesive and thereby to cooperate with thepress fit in retaining each patch P within the sheet S.

It is to be understood that there are a sufficient number of patchingstations 35 arranged in laterally offset relation along the table sothat a'patch can be inserted at any point across the width of the sheetS. That is, the die cutter wheels 70 and the corresponding patchinserting mechanisms of the patching stations 35 within the first row ofgroup are laterally offset by a slight amount in relation to the cuttingwheels 70 and corresponding patch inserting mechanisms of the next groupof patching stations, and so on, so that effectively the entire area ofthe veneer sheet S is covered as the sheet is fed along the table 30.

Referring to FIG. 16, the flexible anvil belt 95 and backup anvil plate90 may be replaced by a reciprocating anvil block or member 260 which isslidably supported by a pair of guide rods 262 rigidly secured to aframe member 264. Thus when one of the knives engages the sheet 5, theanvil member 260 travels with the sheet S and thereby provides a flatbackup support for the sheet at it is die-cut by the knife. A compression spring 265 returns the anvil member 260 to its home position afterthe knife rotates out of pressure engagement with the sheet S.

From the drawings and the above description, it can be seen thatpatching apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention providesdesirable features and advantages. For example, by providing a pluralityof patching stations 35 in laterally offset relation along the table 30and by controlling the motor 252 and each patching station with thedefect detector 255, all of the defects within the sheet areautomatically replaced with patches P while the sheet is fed at aconstant speed along the table 30 by the drive rolls 48, I08 and 225. Asa result, a large number of veneer sheets can be quickly patched whichis especially desirable for obtaining optimum efficiency in thehigh-volume production of plywood.

The construction of each die cutter wheel 70 and its correspondingknives 80 provides an important feature in that a defective portion of aveneer sheet can be removed without stopping the sheet and withoutcutting-the sheet into smaller pieces. The cooperation of the flexibleanvil belt 95 and anvil plate or the anvil member 260 of each patchingstation assures that the die-cut hole H is precisely formed so that itwill receive a patch P with the proper press fit. That is, the anvilplate 90 or anvil member 260 assures that the veneer sheet S will remainflat during the diecutting operation while the low friction anvil beltor the movement of the anvil member 260 substantially eliminates anydrag on the sheet 5.

The construction of each magazine provides another important feature ofthe invention. For example, each magazine 135 may be convenientlyremoved from its supporting frame 142 for loading a stack of patches Pinto the magazine, and while the magazine is removed, the springs retainthe stack of patches within the magazine. The mechanism for releasingeach patch P from a magazine I35 and its cooperation with the mechanismfor inserting a patch P into a hole H also provides for dependabilityand high-speed operation. That is, ejecting the bottom patch laterallyto a position where it is held by friction between the spring fingers185 while the sheet is being die-cut enables the patch to be preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise method and forms of apparatus, and thatchanges may be made in either without departing from the scope of theinvention which is defined in the appended claims.

. We claim:

.1. Apparatus for patching a sheet of veneer, comprising nieans forfeeding the sheet along a predetermined path, means for sensing a defectin the sheet as it is moving along said path, means for cutting andremoving a predetermined portion of the sheet containing the defectwhile the sheet is moving along said path to form an opening ofpredetermined size within the sheet, and means for inserting a patchwithin the opening while the sheet is moving along said path.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting and removingmeans include a rotary die having a knife with a curved cutting edge ofsubstantially uniform radius and definipg a generally cylindrical path.

-3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including a movable anvil member,and means for supporting said anvil member adja cent said path of saidcutting edge of said die.

-4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said anvil .member comprisesa flexible endless belt, and said supporting men means for said beltincluding a stationary support member positioned adjacent said path ofthe sheet and having asubstantially flat backup surface for said belt.

-.5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said knife includes aplurality of mating sections, and means for releasably retaining eachsaid section.

6, Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said rotary die is driven bydrive means including an electrically operated clutch to provide forprecise rotation of said die in timed relation with said feeding meansfor the sheet and in response to actuation of said sensing means.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting and removingmeans include means for blowing said portion from thesheet after thesheet is cut.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of said cuttingand removing means positioned along said path of the sheet in laterallyoffset relation, and a corresponding plurality of said patch insertingmeans positioned in alignment with the corresponding said cutting andremoving means to provide for patching the sheet at substantially anypoint across the width of the sheet.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 including an endless conveyorextending below said plurality of said cutting and removing means toprovide for collecting the portions cut from the sheet.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said patch inserting meansincludes an upright magazine adapted to receive a stack of patches, apatch ejecting member disposed adjacent the bottom of said magazine.means for actuating said ejecting member for removing the bottom patchfrom said magazine. means for positioning each patch removed from saidmagazine so that an edge portion of the patch is received within theopening, and means for pressing the patch into the opening.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including means for reciprocatingsaid ejecting member. and a spring member forming a part of saidpressing means positioned in the path of the patch received within theopening and extending in angular relation with the sheet to effectcamming of the patch into said opening.

12. A method of patching a sheet of veneer, comprising the ste s'offeeding the sheet along a predetermined path, sensing a efect within thesheet whi e i is moving along said path,

cutting and removing a predetermined portion of the sheet containing thedefect while the sheet is moving along said path to form an opening ofpredetermined configuration within the sheet, and inserting a patchwithin said opening while the sheet is moving along said path.

13. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the step of cutting thesheet comprises rolling a curved knife edge along the surface of thesheet while the sheet is moving along said path.

14. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the step of removing theportion from the sheet comprises ejecting the portion with a blast ofair.

15. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein said step of inserting apatch comprises positioning the patch so that a per tion thereof isreceived within said opening, and progressively forcing the remainingportion of the patch into said opening as the sheet moves along saidpath.

